Rockets Head to the Desert, Look to Keep Rolling in the Sun
Sunny Advantage. Avoiding the Trap. All-Decade.
Houston pays a visit to the desert to face the Suns on Saturday night. The Rockets are looking for their third straight victory tonight. But the past two wins haven’t been easy. Houston’s coming off consecutive 15-point halftime comebacks in their past two games. The first time that’s happened in franchise history. The Rockets will try avoid digging an early hole in Phoenix, as they face one of the youngest teams in the league. James Harden and Russell Westbrook can’t overlook these Suns because they’re a losing team. Houston’s had a problem playing down to their competition yet again this season. It’s a trend they’ll look to end in the desert on Saturday night.
Phoenix started off the season hot, going 5-2, with impressive victories over the Lakers and Sixers. Since, the Suns have cooled off. Phoenix is currently 11-17 and out of the playoff picture. Granted, they just got their best big man, sophomore DeAndre Ayton, back from a suspension. Ayton scored 18 points and grabbed 12 boards in his first game earlier this week against the Clippers His size and strength will pose challenges for Clint Capela in the middle. P.J. Tucker, coming off a stellar defensive performance guarding Kawhi Leonard, and at times Paul George, will no doubt be at Clint’s side to help. Phoenix’s best player, Devin Booker, is one of the most underrated stars in the league. Outside of Booker and Ayton, the Suns are thin, and one of the youngest teams in the NBA. Phoenix’s future is bright, but this season they’re lottery-bound.
Westbrook’s rolling, and the Rockets shouldn’t have much of a challenge in the desert, unless they regress to bad habits. Phoenix lost last night in Oklahoma City, so Houston has the added edge in the rest category as well. Nonetheless, this game has the feel of one that could be a trap game. Christmas is nearing. A rematch with the Kings looms on Monday, the team that stole one in Houston at the buzzer. The Rockets need to keep their focus on the opponent at hand, or this young Phoenix team could run past Houston. If the Harden and co. overlook the Suns, watch out. Despite this being a back-to-back for the Suns, they’re young, and don’t know any better. If Houston plays around, they might shoot themselves in the foot once again. Hopefully the last two comeback victories have inspired the Rockets to start sharper from the tip. Houston has to avoid falling behind by big margins. Comeback victories are dramatic and exciting. But they’re also draining and tiresome on the players. P.J. Tucker is playing way too many minutes. As evidenced on Thursday night, the Rockets will rely on P.J. in the playoffs. The 34-year old Tucker will be 35 by then. Father time catches up with everyone. Houston needs to give P.J. a breather and start winning games comfortably. If the Rockets keep playing around with the game, the game will come back to bite them at the most crucial of moments.
Look, at the Suns, and you see the 11-17 record, a young team, destined for the lottery. However, this is actually the best Phoenix team all decade. It’s been a cold ten years for the Suns since they last saw the playoffs, losing to Kobe’s Lakers in the 2010 Western Conference Finals. This season, and entering a new decade, signals change for Phoenix. They started hot, and have shown signs of promise this season. The Suns will be a threat to make the playoffs for years to come in the future, but not this year. Houston, meanwhile also has the best team they’ve had all decade. And this Rockets group has different aspirations than Phoenix’s young core… serious title aspirations. After dispatching their rivals, the Clippers, in the previous game, Houston put the league slightly on notice, letting the NBA know, “hey we’re here, too.” But the Rockets have to win matchups like the one tonight if they want to give themselves a chance. Losing to bad teams piles up. Houston needs to begin piling up wins. Harden, Westbrook, and the Rockets should be too much to handle for a Suns team playing on the second night of a back-to-back. It’s stop two of Houston’s four-game road-trip. Only a young, tired Phoenix team stands in the way of victory. Time for the Rockets to make the Suns pay, and give the fans what they paid for, as Houston visits the desert.
Talking Stick Resort Arena: Phoenix, Arizona
Jersey Colors:
Houston Rockets (19-9): “Space City” White
Phoenix Suns (11-17): Black
TV: 8 PM CT – NBA TV, AT&T Sportsnet SW